[TheUWfarm] September Newsletter - be a part of the magic

Hey farmers,

The September newsletter will be coming out sometime in the next week. Please send me any submissions by this FRIDAY MORNING (September 3rd). Submissions can include interesting articles, events on the farm, food/ag-related stuff happening in the area, etc etc....

Thanks! Excited to see you all in October :)

--
Michelle Venetucci Harvey
University of Washington '11
Community, Environment, and Planning
Environmental Anthropology

[TheUWfarm] Early Fall Start Class - Food and the Urban Environment

Hi,

My name is Mary Jones and I'm an Early Fall Start student in a class called Food and the Urban Environment. As part of the course, every student is required to spend time working on a farm. I was wondering if someone who has experience with the UW farm could take some time to give interested students a tutorial of what sorts of things need to be done on the farm and how to do th. Our class is 9:30am - 12:00pm Monday - Thursday, so the best time would be the afternoon of one of those days.

Thank you,

 
Mary Jones

[TheUWfarm] Campus Sustainability Fund Committee

Hello everyone!

My name is Anshika Kumar, I worked closely with the Campus Sustainability Fund last year, and I wanted to share a really incredible opportunity with you to help guide the future of sustainability on campus this coming year. 

To give a little background, the CSF was a huge campaign we launched last year in order to establish a fund to support student-led sustainability projects on campus. Last Spring we heard from the Student Activities Fee committee (the avenue through which we pursued the fund) that we would have a $339,805 sustainability fund for the 2010-2011 school year! 

In light of the fund's core values, the CSF is student money, and we wanted to make sure it remained in student hands: that's where you come in. The discretion of the fund will actually rest entirely with a seven-student committee, who will receive proposals for the fund, and decide which projects they wish to implement on campus.

The committee will be composed of 3 at-large ASUW appointments, 1 ASUW senate appointment, 2 GPSS appointments, and 1 ESAC (Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee) appointment. Any undergrads can apply for the at-large ASUW appointments, and any senators can apply for the ASUW senate appointment--which will be voted on by the senate.

This is an unprecedented opportunity to put students at the forefront of the University's environmental agenda and sustainability efforts. And while serving on this committee is an enormous responsibility, it's also an incredibly exciting one-- and one that I hope you will consider. It will be a year-long commitment, but also keep in mind that any projects that you are particularly invested in, you will have to sit out voting on funding for. 

I don't have all the details for the ASUW at-large appointment process, but I know there is an application and interview process that will take place in the first few weeks of Fall quarter. If you are interested, you should definitely shoot an e-mail to ASUW Vice President Eric Shellan (asuwvp@uw.edu), who will be heading up the interview process for the Committee appointments. And if you are a grad student, your GPSS President Sarah Reyneveld should be able to tell you more (sarahreyneveld@gmail.com). 

Please feel free to e-mail me with any other questions, especially if you have questions about the fund itself. Our website is also a great resource for more information: www.uwcsf.org. 

We've worked so hard to get the CSF into fruition, and now we need the dedication of a few creative, committed students to help make it a real success in its first year of being. Thank you so much for reading through this; I hope you will consider serving, and I hope the CSF will be a great resource for the UW Farm and its many ambitions this year.

Cheers!

Anshika Kumar

[TheUWfarm] Eat Parsnips

Hello Everyone, 

I just harvested the parsnips in area d today! They are washed and sitting in the greenhouse refrigerator. So come eat them.

Cheers,

Joe  

[TheUWfarm] August Teach Out at Laughing Crow Farm!

Teach Out! Engaging our Local Food Cycle

AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT AND WORK FOR A LOCAL COMMUNITY FARM

Coordinated by the Food Justice Project of the Community Alliance for Global Justice

Fourth Event of 2010! Laughing Crow Farm - Bainbridge Island, WA
Sunday, August 22nd, 10am-3pm (with optional potluck after!)

Carpool or join the guided bike ride!

CAGJ's Food Justice Project invites our members and others to learn about and build connections with key players in the local food region through monthly visits to farms, community kitchens, and community gardens! The site visits will include hands-on work that is needed by or is appropriate to the sites, opportunities to debrief and reflect at the end of the site visit, and calls to action! Each visit will allow for carpool options and many will also feature a bike route guided by a CAGJ member. Through these visits, CAGJ hopes to facilitate a place for the voices of our local food producers to be heard and their knowledge and skills to be recognized and celebrated.

Laughing Crow Farm, one of the Day Road Farms on Bainbridge Island, is part of the island's oldest working landscape and largest working farm. The land has been farmed since 1928, when it was cleared by the Suyematsu family. Today, it is among the sixty acres of public farmland managed by Friends of the Farm, a nonprofit that works to promote farming and farmland preservation on Bainbridge Island. The Day Road Farms also collaborate with Global Source Education to teach local students about sustainable agriculture.

After visiting the farm, Teach Out participants are invited to a potluck on the South end of the island for food, fun, friends, and all the blackberries you can pick!

**Please note, space is limited, so RSVP's are required. To sign up, fill out the online form here. If you have any questions, please email Molly at mollyjade@gmail.com. We will send you directions and carpooling details upon receiving your RSVP, as well as information about what to wear and bring. All activities will be appropriate for children and we can work out disability accommodations if needed.

[TheUWfarm] Looking for someone who knows how to tan hides

Hi UW Farmers ... 

I'm sort of a lurker, never been involved in the farm because I'm too busy with my own full-time job at UW and my tiny farm on Bainbridge Island -- though I do read with interest. 

We have some sheep and goats for meat this year, and I'd really love to learn how to tan so I can really put the whole critter to good use. Can anyone refer me to someone locally who could help me learn how to tan hides? 

Thanks! 

Lauren 

[TheUWfarm] VISTA Position - Seattle Community Farm Project

Hi UW Farmers,

Here is a great position with the new Seattle Community Farm in the Rainier Valley. Recent grads and job seekers, read on below and contact Benjamin with questions.

Cheers,

Eva

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Bates-Benetua, Michelle" <michelleb@solid-ground.org>

Date: August 16, 2010 1:58:49 PM PDT

To: 

Subject: VISTA Position -Community Farm Project

Hello Everyone.

 

Though there is no replacing Jamie and Leslie, Rotary First Harvest is recruiting for a VISTA volunteer to work with us at the Community Farm November 2010-2011.  The position is attached and pasted below. Please forward to folks you know might be interested and post the attach description. They are accepting applications through August 30^th.  All inquiries should go to Benjamin@firstharvest.org

 

 

Thank you,

Michelle

 

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION: AmeriCorps*VISTA Farm Harvest Coordinator

This is a great opportunity to work in collaboration with Solid Ground, Rotary First Harvest, and

local community groups to develop a new community farm in the Rainier Valley neighborhood of

Seattle. This position will strengthen urban gleaning and spearhead increased volunteer efforts for

local food production and food bank support in Seattle.

This position will build the volunteer capacity for local gleaning projects and produce donations for

Seattle area food banks and meal programs. If you are a highly organized, self-directed person with

strong communication skills and are passionate about building community and working to address

issues of hunger, Harvest Against Hunger has an AmeriCorps*VISTA position for you! Help

increase capacity and inspire more people to volunteer to feed the hungry.

Harvest Against Hunger, a program of Rotary First Harvest, works to connect farms/gardens with

their local food banks by motivating volunteer support. In 2009 HAH gathered one million pounds of

food that would have otherwise gone to waste. www.firstharvest.org/hah

Solid Ground is one of the largest and most creative human service agencies in the Seattle region.

Created over 30 years ago, Solid Ground is dedicated to: developing and providing creative and

effective responses to our community's needs; offering quality human services in a manner that

promotes dignity; advocating for policies and initiatives that give all people equal opportunities and

resources; undoing institutional racism; and supporting the efforts of others who share our vision.

Each year, Solid Ground provides shelter, food, counseling and other basic services for over 25,000

people in need and is at the forefront of addressing hunger and nutrition issues among low-income

families throughout Seattle and King County.

Lettuce Link, a program Solid Ground program, is an innovative food and gardening program that

works with a large volunteer network to create access to fresh, nutritious and organic produce, seeds,

and gardening information for low-income families in Seattle and to educate the community about

food security and sustainable food production. Lettuce Link has been coordinating Seattle's

Community Fruit Tree Harvest and Grow a Row efforts yet with increasing interest and demand new

systems and approaches need to be developed in order to provide a sustainable response.

www.solid-ground.org

Title: AmeriCorps*VISTA Farm Harvest Coordinator

Status: Stipend Volunteer Position

Reports to: Lettuce Link Program Manager

Commitment: 12 months, 40 hrs per week beginning November 9, 2010

Training: Attendance at two AmeriCorps*VISTA training sessions is required

Stipend: $11,724 Living allowance; plus $5,350 Education Award and Benefits

Harvest Against Hunger

VISTA Project

Application Process: Please send your resume and a cover letter that explains your interest and fit

for the position to- Benjamin@firstharvest.org

Application Due Date: August 30, 2010

This position is offered through the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, details are outlined on the

AmeriCorps website. http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp

CORE RESPONSIBILITES: Work in collaboration with host site supervisor at Solid Ground and

with Harvest Against Hunger program director, and local community groups to develop a new

community farm in the Rainier Valley neighborhood of Seattle. This includes developing systems,

support for and events that directly engage community members to participate at the farm. The

VISTA will assist with general farming including, planting, weeding, harvesting, crop rotation,

recording of farm activities, tracking the varieties and time to harvest and helping to create raised

beds, worm bins, trellises, signs, gates, and other small construction projects. Additionally, the

VISTA will help promote food security and backyard gardening through outreach events, garden

education, and other projects. Specific responsibilities might include:

Volunteer Recruitment:

• Research recruitment strategies and develop recruitment plan that involves multi-cultural and

multi-lingual community members and recipients of produce

• Develop messaging materials and strategy for neighborhood blog postings

• Develop volunteer leadership opportunities

• Meet with community leaders and organizations to raise awareness of program

• Represent Lettuce Link program at community events

• Write program blog posts, attend events, table and coordinate volunteers to help promote the

farm goals

Community Outreach:

• Attend community meetings and events to make new community connections

• Coordinate with local service providers and schools to develop educational opportunities for

elementary school aged children at the farm.

• Work with community volunteers and donors to increase funding and in-kind donations to

promote the sustainability of the program.

Program Coordination and Sustainability:

• Develop participant tracking mechanism

• Create and implement a work-share model

• Train, engage and coordinate volunteers on ongoing basis

• Coordinate volunteers around community building and farming activities.

• Recognize and thank donors and volunteers, and strategize for participant retention

• Document procedures, networking, volunteer hours and results

• Work with and expand upon collaborative community/organizational relationships

• Develop strategies and plan to maintain and evaluate the effectiveness of the farm

General Skills and Qualifications:

A combination of education, volunteer, and work experience that demonstrates ability to perform

position duties; Effective communication and organizational skills; Successful experience growing

food; Ability to work as a team and practice effective relationship-building techniques; Ability to

multi-task and work under pressure; Ability to work with people from various cultures, ethnicities

and races as well as a commitment to challenge institutional racism; Knowledge of basic computer

programs such as Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as internet research skills; Ability to work

outdoors in all weather.

All employees working at Solid Ground have the responsibility for developing and safekeeping a

workplace that values and supports a culturally diverse work environment. Openness to new ideas

and ways, compassion, flexibility, and respect are valued and encouraged attributes for our

employees. We believe that a multi-cultural, multi-racial workforce is critical to our mission of

creating "a just and caring community, free from poverty, prejudice and neglect." As our workforce

evolves to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, our agency and workplace will be

enriched and strengthened.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Interest in and ability to work with people from a variety of racial, cultural and economic

backgrounds, with various lifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages;

• Knowledge and/or experience with the nonprofit community

• Background working with civic and/or volunteer organizations

• Highly organized and self-directed

• Strong interpersonal skills and public speaking ability

• Ability to work independently, but in collaboration with several other groups

• Ability to juggle many different projects simultaneously, and prioritize as needed

• Commitment to diversity, innovation and community-building

• Ability to work weekends and occasional evenings during the harvest season (with time off in

exchange)

• Ability to work in an office as well as an outdoor environment

• Comfort with web based social networking technology

• Ability to speak Vietnamese, or Amharic, or Somali, or Tigrinya, or Oromo or Chinese would

be a plus.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident

• At least 18 years of age

• Ability to commit to working 12 months beginning in November 2010

• Computer competency, especially using Excel, email, and internet

• College degree, or High School Diploma (or equivalent)

• Member may not hold additional jobs

• Access to reliable transportation, valid driver's license, vehicle insurance that meets

Washington State's minimum guidelines and the ability and willingness to travel throughout

Seattle, mileage reimbursement is provided at standard rate

STIPEND & BENEFITS:

• A living allowance of $11,724 distributed in equal installments twice monthly

• Basic health insurance (VISTA member only, no dependents)

• Loan forbearance for federal student loans

• A $5,350 educational award upon completion of your service term (or $1,200 cash stipend)

• Childcare assistance (available for those who qualify)

• The opportunity to work for an innovative, vital and demanding organization

• Experience in project management, marketing, and leadership

• Exposure to dozens of nonprofits and community partners

• Fresh vegetables during the growing season

 

Michelle Bates-Benetua, Lettuce Link Program Manager
206-694-6754

http://lettucelink.blogspot.com/

http://www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Nutrition/Lettuce

 

---

[TheUWfarm] Summer update: plentiful food, expansion, and the visioning team

Hello Farm!!

Summer has got the farm booming with tons of vegetables and food. This is a general call for both ends of what we are doing at the farm, growing food and eating food. Come down, work and dine! This is especially important in the last few weeks of August as many of our farm interns, and myself will be out of town. 

Also an update on expansion and a call for more visionaries:
As many of you may know over the past year the farm has pushing for more space on campus so that we can grow as a hub for education, but also food production. We have been vying for an additional acre so we can begin to provide food  to the burgeoning student food co-op and also HFS. Foege field had been the ideal spot, and in many ways it still is, however, unfortunately that spot didn't work out and for the sake of maintaining the close allies we have had within the administration of the college of arts and sciences and not chasing a dead end at this time we will be looking for space elsewhere. Our current efforts now center on building our fiscal strength through grants and fund raising, making our current location the best it could possibly be-- really uping the ante with education, networking and improving our signage, as well as exploring our options for other locations on campus. If you want to be a part of this wonderful process of truly changing our campus for the better, and gain hands-on skills in landscape and buisness planning, navigating the inner-workings of our University and its regulations, diplomacy, and just having a great time dreaming up a wonderful program in urban agriculture I highly recommend joining the farm visioning team!!!!! I can't even begin to explain how much I have gotten out of my involvement with it over the past six months. The visioning team is open to all who want to get involved, regardless of how much you've been involved with the farm in the past. As with everything on the farm COME ONE AND COME ALL. If you are interested please reply to me from the email address you'd like to have put on the visioning list-serve, so you can be updated on meetings and expansion happenings. Put "farm vision" in the subject line.


Enjoy the heat, swim, play, and EAT!
Best,
Nina

[TheUWfarm] "UW Student Farm" sent you a message on Facebook...

facebook Michelle Venetucci Harvey sent a message to the members of UW Student Farm. Michelle Venetucci HarveyAugust 16, 2010 at 7:44am Subject: Switch to a fan page Hello everyone! Thank you so much for being a part of this group! The UW Farm wanted to become more active on facebook, so we decided to switch to a fan page. Please go here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/UW-Student-Farm/142447402454318?ref=mf (should also come up by typing in UW student Farm) and "like" us - you'll get updates and see photos. We're also hoping to post interesting articles and maybe start some discussions... please help us make the switch! I will soon be deleting this group. (note: make sure we show up on your newsfeed after you "like" our fan page. If we aren't showing up, go to the bottom of your news feed, click "edit option" and "view recommended friends"...find us and click!) -Michelle To reply to this message, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox%2Freadmessage.php&t=1417015188710&mid=2d34c31G233dd427G554f6c4G0&bcode=v13sd&n_m=theuwfarm%40u.washington.edu This message was intended for theuwfarm@u.washington.edu. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please follow the link below to unsubscribe. http://www.facebook.com/o.php?k=6a693d&u=591254567&mid=2d34c31G233dd427G554f6c4G0 Facebook, Inc. P.O. Box 10005, Palo Alto, CA 94303

[TheUWfarm] New social media is coming out of our ears....

Hey everyone! Please join are NEWLY LAUNCHED facebook fan page. It will be a great way to stay connected to the farm. You can "become a fan" by clicking here and on the page clicking "like".  Also, please share this group on your own facebook profile by clicking the "share" button in the lower left of the fan page.

Note: if you were already in our facebook group, this will soon be obsolete. Please make the switch!

We now also have a twitter account: http://twitter.com/UWFarm  Feel free to follow!

--
Michelle Venetucci Harvey
University of Washington '11
Community, Environment, and Planning
Environmental Anthropology

[TheUWfarm] skill sharing: august 21st

A sustainable living festival hosted by Sustainable Northeast Seattle
August 21st, 10am-5pm at the Hunter Tree Farm property 7744 35th Ave NE, Seattle

Free workshops, speakers, food, music, demonstrations, activities for kids! Come learn how you can reduce your environmental footprint and share your experiences in trying to live more sustainably! Learn about solar cooking, bicycle repair (bring your bike!), cheese-making, weatherizing you home, growing your own tea (bring a cup!), tool repair, sod replacement, worm bins, bee-keeping, edible landscaping, rain gardens, and much much more. Take home ideas for environmentally-friendly living and maybe win some eco products to help you on your way.

Sustainable Northeast Seattle event page: http://sustainableneseattle.ning.com/events/planet-home-a-sustainable
Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116633528384607

[TheUWfarm] Fwd: cooking for the bookf(a)ir: august 21/22

HI Friends and Farmers, 

I'm writing to see if there is interest/organization around cooking for the upcoming seattle anarchist bookfair. 

last year, there were some awesome sandwhiches, pies, and coffee supplied from fnbers. 

i'd love to help with this, and can offer a kitchen, basics, dumpstering and other food collection means. 

if you have food to donate, grown or otherwise giftable, please be in touch! 

give me a call 547-1175 or write to me and we can collaborate! or, if you know of other folks already partaking, let me know and i will lend some hands

alice

[TheUWfarm] Fwd: FACN: August 12th Public Hearing and Comment Period

Hey all - I'll be going to this tonight and speaking in support of the proposal.  Just in case anyone's interested. Sorry for the short notice.

-Michelle

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HARRY HOFFMAN <harry_hoffman@msn.com>
Date: Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Subject: FACN: August 12th Public Hearing and Comment Period
To: rburbanag@gmail.com

Dear Friends of Atlantic City Nursery
 
On June 30th, Parks unveiled a concept plan for the nursery that includes both an urban farm and restoration of the wetlands at the site. This is a great validation of the work you all have been doing and on behalf of our Steering Committee I want to thank each of you once again.
 
Our advocacy work isn't done yet; the Parks Board of Commissioners are holding a public hearing on Thursday August 12th at Parks HQ 100 Dexter Avenue N. - doors open at 6:00 pm for sign-up and the hearing begins at 7:00 pm.  Please come down and show your support for the project - let's fill the room with supporters!! 
 
We can expect concerned neighbors showing up (and writing in) to challenge Parks' idea of a path through the nursery and can anticipate some questioning of the urban farm/wetlands concept as well. We'll need a strong turnout at the hearing to balance those opinions.
 
If you can't attend the public hearing, you can still help make the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands Project bloom by sending your written testimony in support to the Commissioners (they read every comment).
 
Send your email to: Sandy Brooks at sandy.brooks@seattle.gov or mail/deliver a message to:
 
Sandy Brooks
100 Dexter Avenue. N.
Seattle,  WA 98109-5199
 
What should you say - in person or in writing? In your own words, share that:
 
1. Converting the existing nursery to a neighborhood-appropriate urban farm is the best future use of the existing Atlantic City Nursery facilities.
 
2. Restoring the many wetlands areas at the Atlantic City Nursery as protected wildlife habitat with native plants is the right way to steward this major portion of our local ecosystem.
 
3. Neighbor concerns about safety are best met by an active and positive use of the site as an urban fram and restored wetlands.
 
The deadline for written comments is September 2nd, a few days before the Parks Commissioners make their recommendation for the future of the Atlantic City Nursery to the Parks Superintendent - sending them in before August 6th will ensure they are part of the upcoming public hearing process. 
 
Questions? Contact the Friends of Atlantic City Nursery at rburbanag@gmail.com. 
 

Reminder: FACN meeting schedule for the rest of the summer, all meetings open to the public and held at the Rainier Beach Public Library:

 
Aug 7: 10:30 - 11:45
Sep 11: 10:30 - 11:45

 
Thanks,
 
Harry Hoffman
Co-chair FACN

---

The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. Get started.

--
Michelle Venetucci Harvey
University of Washington '11
Community, Environment, and Planning
Environmental Anthropology

READ ATTACHMENT LETTER VERY CAREFUL

DEAR WINNER, OPEN ATTACHMENT LETTER READ THIS LETTER VERY CAREFUL AND CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT WITH YOUR FULL INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY ,REF: BTL/311OXI/02, BATCH: 14/211/0374, WINNER NO: 5, SECURITY CODE: ZA184/08

SINCERELY,
MRS,MARIE SMITH
(CO-COORDINATOR)

[TheUWfarm] Re: Americorps position at NABC in Mt Vernon

Thanks Lydia- there's more specifics on the site....it's a Skagit-based position with at least one work day in Seattle. http://psfn.org/blog/

Lucy Norris
Regional Food System Developer
Puget Sound Food Network
http://www.psfn.org
419 S. 1st Street, Suite 200
P.O. Box 2924
Mount Vernon, WA  98273
360-336-3666  phone
360-336-3751  fax
347-268-1781  cell
206-420-1229  home office

PSFN is a project of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center
http://www.agbizcenter.org

On Aug 9, 2010, at 4:16 PM, Lydia Caudill wrote:

Thanks Lucy, I will post it around.

Here is a great position if anyone is interested!

Lydia

-----Original Message-----
From: Lucy Norris [mailto:lucy@psfn.org]
Sent: Sat 8/7/2010 5:40 PM
To: Lydia Caudill - 20RE
Subject: Americorps position at NABC in Mt Vernon

Hi Lydia- We can officially post this Americorps Farm to Community Coordinator position should you know anyone who lives close to Skagit that would be right for this job with PSFN.  The other one is working on Whidbey Island.  Thanks.

AmeriCorps Opportunities at NABC

The Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) has service opportunities for two AmeriCorps volunteers. Both positions relate to underserved communities:  eliminating hunger and providing access to food in low-income urban and rural communities.

Farm to Community Coordinator:
The Northwest Agriculture Business Center's Puget Sound Food Network (PSFN) is receiving partial funding for its participation in one of two HEAL grants awarded to Seattle Human Services.  This project is focused on connecting local food to Seattle's least served communities through the Congregate/Home Delivered Meal Program.  The goal of this project is to make healthy foods, preferably local products, affordable for senior congregate and home-delivered meals and child care centers by cooperatively purchasing fresh local produce through a Farm-to-Table partnership.  The Farm to Market Coordinator will work with NABC staff and partnering organizations to support development of this innovative program.

PSFN is seeking an AmeriCorps volunteer with solid academic research and writing experience in social sciences or the humanities, who is a critical thinker with good analytical skills, and is eager to learn.  Prefer an academic background or equivalent experience in public health, has research and data gathering skills, organizational skills.  NABC ideally would prefer someone who dreams of this kind of opportunity as an open door into a career in public health/food policy or childhood or geriatric nutrition.

Farm To Market Coordinator:
The AmeriCorps volunteer will work with the staff and students of NABC's Greenbank Farm Training Center, collaborators from outside organizations, and members of the public to support production of, and  access to, locally produced food for all members of the community based on the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model.  Responsibilities will include marketing and other research, assisting with farm product processing and delivery to low-income familiies, demonstrating products and developing marketing materials to raise awareness of local products and the value of locally grown food, working with agriculture busineses to help  increase their sustainability and profitibility, coordinating educational workshops for farmers and the public, project administration and related support activities.  

For more information about joining AmeriCorps, please contact:

Jennifer Rice,
VISTA and AmeriCorps Coordinator
Skagit County Community Action Agency
jen@servenorthwestwa.org
360-588-5720
360-416-7585 ext. 1185 (main desk)

For more information about PSFN and the HEAL project, please contact:

Lucy Norris, Project Manager
Puget Sound Food Network
lucy@psfn.org
347-268-1781
360-336-3727 (main office)

For more information about the Greenbank Farm Training Center project, please contact:

Maryon Attwood, Project Manager
Maryon@agbizcenter.org
360-336-3727 (main office)
Lucy Norris
Regional Food System Developer
Puget Sound Food Network
http://www.psfn.org
419 S. 1st Street, Suite 200
P.O. Box 2924
Mount Vernon, WA  98273
360-336-3666  phone
360-336-3751  fax
347-268-1781  cell
206-420-1229  home office

PSFN is a project of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center
http://www.agbizcenter.org

[TheUWfarm] RE: Americorps position at NABC in Mt Vernon

Thanks Lucy, I will post it around.

Here is a great position if anyone is interested!

Lydia

-----Original Message-----
From: Lucy Norris [mailto:lucy@psfn.org]
Sent: Sat 8/7/2010 5:40 PM
To: Lydia Caudill - 20RE
Subject: Americorps position at NABC in Mt Vernon

Hi Lydia- We can officially post this Americorps Farm to Community Coordinator position should you know anyone who lives close to Skagit that would be right for this job with PSFN.  The other one is working on Whidbey Island.  Thanks.

AmeriCorps Opportunities at NABC

The Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) has service opportunities for two AmeriCorps volunteers. Both positions relate to underserved communities:  eliminating hunger and providing access to food in low-income urban and rural communities.

Farm to Community Coordinator:
The Northwest Agriculture Business Center's Puget Sound Food Network (PSFN) is receiving partial funding for its participation in one of two HEAL grants awarded to Seattle Human Services.  This project is focused on connecting local food to Seattle's least served communities through the Congregate/Home Delivered Meal Program.  The goal of this project is to make healthy foods, preferably local products, affordable for senior congregate and home-delivered meals and child care centers by cooperatively purchasing fresh local produce through a Farm-to-Table partnership.  The Farm to Market Coordinator will work with NABC staff and partnering organizations to support development of this innovative program.

PSFN is seeking an AmeriCorps volunteer with solid academic research and writing experience in social sciences or the humanities, who is a critical thinker with good analytical skills, and is eager to learn.  Prefer an academic background or equivalent experience in public health, has research and data gathering skills, organizational skills.  NABC ideally would prefer someone who dreams of this kind of opportunity as an open door into a career in public health/food policy or childhood or geriatric nutrition.

Farm To Market Coordinator:
The AmeriCorps volunteer will work with the staff and students of NABC's Greenbank Farm Training Center, collaborators from outside organizations, and members of the public to support production of, and  access to, locally produced food for all members of the community based on the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model.  Responsibilities will include marketing and other research, assisting with farm product processing and delivery to low-income familiies, demonstrating products and developing marketing materials to raise awareness of local products and the value of locally grown food, working with agriculture busineses to help  increase their sustainability and profitibility, coordinating educational workshops for farmers and the public, project administration and related support activities.  

For more information about joining AmeriCorps, please contact:

Jennifer Rice,
VISTA and AmeriCorps Coordinator
Skagit County Community Action Agency
jen@servenorthwestwa.org
360-588-5720
360-416-7585 ext. 1185 (main desk)

For more information about PSFN and the HEAL project, please contact:

Lucy Norris, Project Manager
Puget Sound Food Network
lucy@psfn.org
347-268-1781
360-336-3727 (main office)

For more information about the Greenbank Farm Training Center project, please contact:

Maryon Attwood, Project Manager
Maryon@agbizcenter.org
360-336-3727 (main office)
Lucy Norris
Regional Food System Developer
Puget Sound Food Network
http://www.psfn.org
419 S. 1st Street, Suite 200
P.O. Box 2924
Mount Vernon, WA  98273
360-336-3666  phone
360-336-3751  fax
347-268-1781  cell
206-420-1229  home office

PSFN is a project of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center
http://www.agbizcenter.org

[TheUWfarm] Internship Position Local Roots Farm (fwd)

Hello Farmers and Friends,
I am working at this farm currently and enjoying the heck out of it. Come join and learn!

Brady Ryan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 13:51:15 -0700
From: Jason Salvo <jason@localrootsfarm.com>
To: Brady Ryan <bradyr@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Internship Position Local Roots Farm

Local Roots Farm (www.localrootsfarm.com), a 6-acre diversified vegetable farm located 25 miles East of Seattle is looking for one or two part-time or full-time interns to help
us this summer/fall. 
Siri and I are expecting our first child this October and are anticipating needing extra assistance starting in late-August and continuing through late-November or longer,
depending on what sort of winter we have. 

We currently pay our interns $500-600/month plus room (in a small travel trailer) and board (all the grains, beans, rice, and vegetables you can eat) for 6 days per week of work.
By the end of September, the work week shrinks to 4-5 days a week, and by the end of October 3-4 days per week. 

Because we are looking for help primarily for the end of the year, we can make accommodations for anyone who wants to work part-time and/or live off the farm. 

Your primary duties will be harvesting and tending vegetables and occasionally vending at the farmers market. 

If you are considering a farm internship for next summer, this would be a great opportunity to get your feet wet and find out if you are suited to working long hours at somewhat
tedious work.... there's a lot of that in farming! If you are interested in working on our farm in particular next season, we do give preference to returning interns.

If you are interested, please send a cover letter and resume to jason@localrootsfarm.com

Thanks, 

Jason, Siri, and Dan

Local Roots Farm
www.localrootsfarm.com
206-679-9512

[TheUWfarm] farm bill workshop

Farm Bill Workshop & Kick-off the formation of the Seattle Farm Bill Action Group!

Sunday August 8, 4-6:30 pm

 

Workshop Description:  Through interactive activities participants will learn about how the Farm Bill affects them personally and create a vision for the Farm Bill we want!  Guest speakers Ben Burkett and John Fawcett-Long will help participants understand the basics of the Farm Bill, its impacts on farmers, communities and consumers in WA state, and the struggles to improve the Farm Bill in 2008, including what lessons we can learn from these past efforts to be more effective in 2012.

 

About the speakers: Ben Burkett is a 4th generation Mississippi Farmer, President of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives and the National Family Farm Coalition, and involved in the international movement of farmers and farmworkers, La Via Campesina. He will be in Seattle to give the keynote at CAGJ's annual dinner, Strengthening Local Economies Everywhere.  John Fawcett-Long has been a long-time advocate organizer for a sustainable and justice food and farming system.  He was raised on a farm in southwestern Minnesota and moved to Seattle in the mid-80s.  He has served as Director of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group and on the Steering Committee of the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture.  He is a co-founder of the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network.  John served as a key grassroots food and farming organizer in 1999 regarding the World Trade Organization's meetings in Seattle.

 

Free! Potluck following - please bring something to share if you are able!

Location: New Hope Baptist Church

116 21st Ave.  - between Fir & Yesler in the Central District of Seattle

Re: [TheUWfarm] Volunteers for a market!

I'm sorry!  I forgot the 's'
http://burstfarmers.wordpress.com

Thanks!

---

From: Lydia Caudill <isa101799@yahoo.com>
To: uw farm <theuwfarm@u.washington.edu>
Sent: Wed, August 4, 2010 2:03:33 PM
Subject: [TheUWfarm] Volunteers for a market!

Would you like to volunteer at a farmers market?  Even better, with a group that really needs your help?  Work with the Refugee Farming Project, and the Hope Burundi Cooperative, and help them market their crops at farmers markets!

  We currently have much produce to sell, and people who are able to harvest and prepare it.  We have also recognized a new need on the farm, we need help marketing at the farmers markets.

Limited English and a developing understanding of American culture makes it challenging for the farmers to sell their best and excel at the markets.  This is a great learning experience, and support from a mentor or assistant at the market would provide a a safer place for them to practice their developing English and see what many people expect the farmers market experience to be like.

These helpers will help them set up at the market, talk to customers, and be support for anything that comes up.  The markets are currently expanding, and most of them are in S. King County, but we will be grateful and as flexible as we can to create a way for you to help us.

Market Assistants and Burundi Farmers

Here is an example of students at Highline Community College helping market on their campus.  The farmers have given feedback that it is a great experience for them to be supported and the students helped more than they realized by showing how to work with customers.

If you are interested, please email Lydia at lydiac@chs-wa.org and she can answer any questions you have and help you find where you are most needed. 

For more about the farmers and the farm, please visit http://burstfarmer.wordpress.com.   Thank you!

[TheUWfarm] Volunteers for a market!

Would you like to volunteer at a farmers market?  Even better, with a group that really needs your help?  Work with the Refugee Farming Project, and the Hope Burundi Cooperative, and help them market their crops at farmers markets!

  We currently have much produce to sell, and people who are able to harvest and prepare it.  We have also recognized a new need on the farm, we need help marketing at the farmers markets.

Limited English and a developing understanding of American culture makes it challenging for the farmers to sell their best and excel at the markets.  This is a great learning experience, and support from a mentor or assistant at the market would provide a a safer place for them to practice their developing English and see what many people expect the farmers market experience to be like.

These helpers will help them set up at the market, talk to customers, and be support for anything that comes up.  The markets are currently expanding, and most of them are in S. King County, but we will be grateful and as flexible as we can to create a way for you to help us.

Market Assistants and Burundi Farmers

Here is an example of students at Highline Community College helping market on their campus.  The farmers have given feedback that it is a great experience for them to be supported and the students helped more than they realized by showing how to work with customers.

If you are interested, please email Lydia at lydiac@chs-wa.org and she can answer any questions you have and help you find where you are most needed. 

For more about the farmers and the farm, please visit http://burstfarmer.wordpress.com.   Thank you!